Rick and Fred travelled to Nepal for the dedication of the Keith Payne VC Meeting Room on 9 October 2025.  The building was renovated and fitted out with funding from the KPVCVBG and is adjacent to the memorial to the late CAPT Lumbu VC of the Ghurka Rifles.  The story is told by Rick, below.

More than fifty years ago, in London, two brave soldiers met — one from Australia (Keith Payne VC AM), one from Nepal (Captain Ram Bahadur Limbu VC MVO). Though they came from different countries, cultures, and languages, they were united by courage, sacrifice, and friendship.

With the loss of Captain Ram Bahadur Limbu VC MVO, the last living Gurkha Victoria Cross recipient in 2023, it brought the end of an enduring friendship between Australian Keith Payne VC AM and Nepalese Gurkha Ram Bahadur Limbu VC MVO.

This relationship fostered a strong bond between the people of Nepal and Australia. The Nepalese have always celebrated this prolonged friendship and to commemorate this event a meeting room named the ‘Keith Payne VC Room’ was established at the site of Ram Bahadur Limbu VC Memorial site in his hometown of Damak, Nepal on the 9^th October 2025.

The meeting room was officially opened by Mark Donaldson VC; Rick Meehan OAM, Chairman of the Keith Payne VC Veterans Benefit Group (KPVCVBG) and Vice Chairman Fred Campbell OAM. Unfortunately, Keith Payne VC was unable to attend this auspicious occasion honouring his great friend and requested Rick and Fred attend.

Thanks to the kind support of the KPVCVBG, a room was renovated at the private property and burial place of Limbu VC and a pergola built outside over his resting place. It’s a symbol of friendship, respect, and shared history between these two great men and two great nations, enabling all veterans and members of the public to come together.

Ram Bahadur Limbu VC was with the 2nd Battalion, 10th Princess Mary’s Own Gurkha Rifles when he was awarded his VC during the Indonesian Confrontation in 1965. Keith Payne VC was with the Australian Army Training Team Vietnam (AATTV) when he received his VC in 1969. For the next fifty years both men attended the VC and GC reunions every two years in London developing a bond worthy of this recognition.

Bhanu Limbu son of Limbu VC stated “To honour Keith and his lifelong friendship with my father; we’ve named the room the Keith Payne VC Room. Foremost, we were extremely honoured to have Mark Donaldson VC, Rick Meehan OAM, and Fred Campbell OAM representing Keith and Australia as they unveil the plaque. May it inspire future generations to serve with pride, live with honour, and value the connections that bring us all together.”